Device for use with a multichannel pipette

Abstract

The present disclosure provides device for use with a pipette, the device comprising a body comprising one or more sample ports, each sample port comprising a cavity, a bottom, a registration feature comprising a tip landing zone and a guiding path for guiding a pipette tip from the tip landing zone to a tip target location. The invention also features a cassette for use in parallel electrophoretic assays, the cassette comprising a lid comprising the device. The present disclosure also provides methods for making same.

1 . A device for use with a pipette, the device comprising:
 a body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the body comprising:
 at least one sample port, each sample port comprising:
 a cavity extending into the body from the upper surface toward the lower surface, but not traversing the body, 
 a bottom defined by a floor plate, 
 a registration feature, the registration feature comprising:
 a tip landing zone; and 
 a guiding path for guiding a pipette tip along an axis from the tip landing zone to a tip target location, 
 
 
   
       wherein the at least one sample port is arranged on the body to receive a pipette tip held by at least one pipette, and further wherein the axis along which the pipette tip travels when guided by the guiding path from the tip landing zone to the tip target location is substantially parallel to the plane of the upper surface of the body. 
     
     
         2 . A device for use with a pipette, the device comprising:
 a body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the body comprising:
 a plurality of sample ports, each of the plurality of sample ports comprising:
 a cavity extending into the body from the upper surface toward the lower surface, but not traversing the body, 
 a bottom defined by a floor plate, 
 a registration feature, the registration feature comprising:
 a tip landing zone; and 
 a guiding path for guiding a pipette tip from the tip landing zone to a tip target location, 
 
 
   
       wherein the plurality of sample ports is arranged on the body to receive a pipette tip held by at least one multichannel pipette, and further wherein the axis along which a pipette tip travels when guided by the guiding path from the tip landing zone to the tip target location is substantially parallel to the plane of the upper surface of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the width of the tip landing zone is larger than the width of the tip target location. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tip landing zone has a perimeter larger than a width over which axial deviation of a pipette tip orifice from a pipette tip central axis does not exceed. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the guiding path comprises a contiguous gradient. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the gradient comprises a gradient slope made with respect to the axis along which a pipette tip travels when guided by the guiding path from the tip landing zone to the tip target location. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the registration feature is formed from material resistant to deformation under pressure imparted by a pipette tip coupled to the multichannel pipette. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture positioned at the tip target location, and traversing the body between the floor plate of the sample port and the lower surface of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the aperture is configured to allow liquid from a pipette tip to be dispensed therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the aperture is configured to allow a pipette tip to be inserted at least partially therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is integrated into or adapted to engage with an apparatus for receiving pipetted liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of receptacles for receiving the pipetted liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the device is configured to overlay an electrophoretic matrix material, wherein the receptacles are wells positioned in the matrix material and spatially aligned with the aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device is configured as a lid to a cassette for use in an electrophoretic assay. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the lid is configured to overlay an electrophoretic matrix material contained within the cassette, wherein the receptacles are wells positioned in the matrix material and spatially aligned with the aperture. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sample ports are positioned in a row. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sample ports are positioned in two or more offset parallel rows. 
     
     
         20 . A cassette for use in parallel electrophoretic assays, the cassette comprising:
 a tray having a floor and two pairs of opposing side walls extending upwardly from the floor, the tray at least partially defining a plurality of assay channels, each of the assay channels comprising:
 a media channel; the media channel extending between, 
   a lid adapted to engage the side walls of the tray, thereby creating a space between the tray floor and the lid, the lid comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, and a plurality of ports, each of the ports extending from an outer surface of the lid to an inner surface of the lid, the plurality of ports comprising:
 a plurality of sample ports for introducing a plurality of samples into the media channels, each of the plurality of sample ports comprising:
 a cavity extending into the lid from the outer surface toward the inner surface, but not traversing the lid, the bottom of the cavity defined by a floor plate; 
 a registration feature, the registration feature comprising:
 a tip landing zone; and 
 a guiding path for guiding a pipette tip along an axis from the tip landing zone to a tip target location in the respective sample port, 
 
 
   the lid further comprising a plurality of apertures positioned at each respective tip target location and traversing the lid between the floor plate of the respective sample port and the inner surface of the lid,   
       wherein the axis along which a pipette tip travels when guided by the guiding path from the tip landing zone to the tip target location is substantially parallel to the plane of the outer surface of the lid. 
     
     
         21 . The cassette of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the width of the tip landing zone is larger than the width of the tip target location in the sample port;   the tip landing zone has a width larger than a maximum deviation of a pipette tip orifice from a pipette tip central axis;   the guiding path comprises a contiguous gradient, the gradient comprising a gradient slope made with respect to the axis along which a pipette tip travels when guided by the guiding path from the tip landing zone to the tip target location in the respective sample port, or   wherein when the lid is engaged with the tray, the first plurality of sample ports are aligned with one of the media channels.   
     
     
         22 . The cassette of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of jersey walls extending from the lid into the space between the tray and the lid, at least partially providing a barrier between the media channels.